Volkswagen lookspoised to start producing a third model at its Kariega facility, with the mystery newcomer set to feature an “SUV-ish” body style…

Volkswagen South Africa has revealed it has plans to build a third product – alongside the Polo hatchback and the Polo Vivo – at its Kariega plant in the Eastern Cape.

Martina Biene, freshly appointed as chairperson and managing director of Volkswagen Group SA, shared the news at a media briefing, with Thomas Schäfer, CEO of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars Brand, sitting alongside her. Schäfer was back in the country to reflect on his first 100 days as global CEO.

“We’re looking at a third product to add. It’s a product which is very much shaped for the A0 segment and for South Africa and Africa. It would be a third product to be added and not a replacement for the Polo now or even in three years’ time,” Biene said, suggesting the new model would (unlike the Polo) not be exported to European markets.

The as-yet-unidentified small crossover will be based on the VW Group’s ubiquitous MQB-A0 platform, which Schäfer – who occupied Biene’s current role from 2015 to 2020 – described as “super versatile”. These underpinnings are currently employed by the likes of the Polo, T-Cross and Taigo, as well as the Audi A1 Sportback and various Seat and Škoda models.

Volkswagen SA has exported more than one million Polo units from Kariega.

Biene emphasised the new model would not replace the Polo on Kariega’s production line, instead suggesting it might fill any production capacity that could potentially be lost once key European markets phase out combustion engines and Polo exports to that continent start to fall.

“We’re not talking about a Polo replacement at this point in time. The Polo will remain with us for a while, which is very good because it’s such a loved product … as well as the Polo Vivo, by the way,” she added, confirming both the Polo and Polo Vivo would continue “beyond 2025”.

Biene, who has returned to South Africa for her second spell following her tenure as head of the Volkswagen Passenger Brand in SA from October 2018 to August 2020, would not be drawn on the identity of the new model, but did drop a hint.

“The product we’re looking at is not produced anywhere currently, but it has an SUV-ish body style,” she said, effectively ruling out any existing products.

She declined to comment on what sort of investment the Kariega facility would require to accommodate the new model, before Schäfer suggested an announcement on the matter would be made at a later date.

“As soon as we’re clear on the model – and hopefully the business case is presented in a way that it gets prioritised over [other] global investment decisions – then we can tell you,” Schäfer said.

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